The Bureau of Land Management, an agency
of the Department of the Interior, manages more land - 261 million surface
acres, and 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate - than any
other Federal agency, most being in the Western states, including Alaska.
Its multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity
of the public lands. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such resources
as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, and energy and mineral development
that helps meet the nation's energy needs.

To facilitate the development of the Nation's energy resources such
as oil and gas, coal, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind, and biomass,
it was recognized that the Bureau would play a critical role in the implementation
of the National Energy Policy adopted by the President in May 2001. Recommendations
within the National Energy Policy were identified as specifically affecting
some of the Bureau's energy-related responsibilities.